System and method for cryptographic choice mechanisms
AssigneeEfficient Auctions LLC
InventorsAndrew Komo, Lawrence M. Ausubel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides an improved system and method for using cryptography to secure computer-implemented choice mechanisms. In several preferred embodiments, a process is provided for securing participants' submissions while simultaneously providing the capability of validating their submissions. This is referred to as a random permutation. In several other preferred embodiments, a process is provided for securing participants' advance instructions while simultaneously providing the capability of validating their advance instructions. This is referred to as a secure advance instruction. Applications include voting mechanisms, school choice mechanisms, and auction mechanisms.
Claims96
A computer system for securing submissions in a choice mechanism with at least two participants while simultaneously validating the submissions, said computer system comprising at least one computer, said choice mechanism using submissions that express one or more choices selected from a plurality of possible choices, comprising:
- receiving means of a first computer of said computer system for receiving a submission from each of at least two participants, wherein each said submission expresses one or more choices selected from a plurality of possible choices and wherein the choices expressed within each said submission are encrypted;
- and
- validating means of said first computer for validating each said submission in relation to one or more constraints on the choices expressed within said submission, wherein said validating occurs while the choices expressed within each said submission are encrypted and without knowledge of the choices expressed within each said submission.
A method for securing submissions in a choice mechanism with at least two participants while simultaneously validating the submissions, said method implemented on a computer system comprising at least one computer, said choice mechanism using submissions that express one or more choices selected from a plurality of possible choices, comprising:
- receiving a submission from each of at least two participants on a first computer of said computer system, wherein each said submission expresses one or more choices selected from a plurality of possible choices and wherein the choices expressed within each said submission are encrypted;
- and
- validating each said submission on said first computer in relation to one or more constraints on the choices expressed within said submission, wherein said validating occurs while the choices expressed within each said submission are encrypted and without knowledge of the choices expressed within each said submission.
A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by a computer system, implements a method for securing submissions in a choice mechanism with at least two participants while simultaneously validating the submissions, said method implemented on a computer system comprising at least one computer, said choice mechanism using submissions that express one or more choices selected from a plurality of possible choices, said method comprising:
- receiving a submission from each of at least two participants on a first computer of said computer system, wherein each said submission expresses one or more choices selected from a plurality of possible choices and wherein the choices expressed within each said submission are encrypted;
- and
- validating each said submission on said first computer in relation to one or more constraints on the choices expressed within said submission, wherein said validating occurs while the choices expressed within each said submission are encrypted and without knowledge of the choices expressed within each said submission.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.